Hi all!

I'm scheduled for banding Xmas eve morning and am pretty excited. I, like most of you, have tried every diet under the sun. No matter how much I lost with each I always knew it wasn't sustainable. After an internal struggle, I decided that getting banded WASN'T a sign of weakness - I was born with the "overweight" trait and I need a solution outside of myself, much like I would take insuliin shots if I was diabetic.

I am, however, having a tough time understanding why this doesn't work for some. For myself, the math seems simple:

Calories req'd to hold my current weight: 3200/day

Calories allowed after banding: 1500/day

Calories burned by exercise: ~300/day

Those numbers suggest I should lose 3-4 lbs/week, at least at the start. I realize as I lose weight the 3200/day also goes down so the loss will slow but, if averaged, it seems that during my intended 70 lb loss I shouldn't drop much beyond 1.5-2 lbs/week.

I get that the above assumes I don't ever cheat. After what I've read it seems that cheating not only makes a person feel guilty but can cause physical discomfort, even pain, so I'm hoping that's a good enough reason to stay on plan. I'm probably being naive, especially since I've not yet experienced this.

Assuming I stick to the plan, I've got to be missing something. Someone please school this boy!

Well, you are correct as far as math. The bottom line is, if you consume less calories than you burn, you will lose weight.

With that said, the human body isn't so logical

I've lost as much as 27 pounds in a month and as little as 7 pounds in a month. There is literally zero difference in my diet and exercise between months. I'm actually pretty strict with myself so it's not a matter of cheating either. Still, there's a huge difference, right?

That's because while the math is correct, there's a lot of biology that math doesn't take into account. If your body was a machine, you'd be all set, but because you're human expect some surprises along the way, both good and bad.

Most surgeon say to expect/aim for a 1-2 pound per week loss. I think that's very realistic and anything beyond that is just bonus.

Best wishes to you

Well, you are correct as far as math. The bottom line is, if you consume less calories than you burn, you will lose weight.

With that said, the human body isn't so logical

I've lost as much as 27 pounds in a month and as little as 7 pounds in a month. There is literally zero difference in my diet and exercise between months. I'm actually pretty strict with myself so it's not a matter of cheating either. Still, there's a huge difference, right?

That's because while the math is correct, there's a lot of biology that math doesn't take into account. If your body was a machine, you'd be all set, but because you're human expect some surprises along the way, both good and bad.

Most surgeon say to expect/aim for a 1-2 pound per week loss. I think that's very realistic and anything beyond that is just bonus.

Best wishes to you

Miss....I dont think I have ever seen a befor pic of you....must be drastic....do you have one to share with us...? before and now...?

Missy,

Thanks for the response.

I assume the 27 was one of the first months, the 7 more recent. I'll lose a ton this first month due to Water and I know it will slow. As this goes on I'm sure there'll be times when I eat water-retaining food so will see artifical gain/losses.

I wonder, though, if there are other factors?

Miss....I dont think I have ever seen a befor pic of you....must be drastic....do you have one to share with us...? before and now...?

It is really drastic actually lol. I have been told my old pics look like "my fat cousin" or some other relative but not at all like me now.

I had pics up here for quite a awhile but recently took them down. Maybe I'll post more soon.

well said Missy!!

It is really drastic actually lol. I have been told my old pics look like "my fat cousin" or some other relative but not at all like me now.

I had pics up here for quite a awhile but recently took them down. Maybe I'll post more soon.

Id love to see them Miss.....keep us motivated girl !

Missy,

Thanks for the response.

I assume the 27 was one of the first months, the 7 more recent. I'll lose a ton this first month due to Water and I know it will slow. As this goes on I'm sure there'll be times when I eat water-retaining food so will see artifical gain/losses.

I wonder, though, if there are other factors?

It was the first couple months, actually. I think I averaged about 20 pounds a month the first 6 months. I've lost 175 pounds in about 11 months, so it is rather a lot relatively quickly.

As far as other factors, oh yes, there's tons. For instance, salt intake. It can blow you right up with water weight. Another factor is exercise, because while a pound of feathers is the same as a pound of lead, muscle is much denser and compact than fat. So, you can shrink in inches but not see the scale move because you're replacing fat with muscle. Hormones are another factor, and I don't just mean female (obviously not for you anyway lol).

You will find your own little triggers and road blocks, too. For instance, I realize I simply cannot eat after 6pm and lose. I also found I can't lose on less than 1000 calories a day and actually need to stay around 1200. But that's just "my things", it doesn't apply to everyone. You'll find "your things" too.

Best wishes

Missy,

Makes loads of sense. The one thing that hadn't occurred to me is what you said about the number of calories you need to eat. Do you think the reason you lose better at 1200 calories is that the lower amount puts you in starvation mode?

Your weight loss is amazing - I can only imagine how great you must feel!

A few months ago I posted my actual weigh in log.. So I will look for it but suffice to say like Mis there were good months and better months, I never had a bad month and I stuck to my plan like glue. All said and done I have been banded 24 months and I have lost 220 lbs.

Missy,

Makes loads of sense. The one thing that hadn't occurred to me is what you said about the number of calories you need to eat. Do you think the reason you lose better at 1200 calories is that the lower amount puts you in starvation mode?

Your weight loss is amazing - I can only imagine how great you must feel!

I actually asked my nutritionist about "starvation mode". What people dieting refer to as "starvation mode" isn't actually starvation at all. It's more like a self induced metabolic syndrome from eating too little, drastically slowing down your metabolism. True starvation is entirely different.

But yes, when I eat too little, my metabolism slows dramatically. When I eat more, it runs much more efficiently. I even wrote a blog entry about my own results messing with my calories: http://www.lapbandtalk.com/blog/6349/entry-24376-calories-do-count/

Thank you for the kind words I do feel really good, better than I have in many years. I really believe the band saved my life, or my quality of life at the very least.

A few months ago I posted my actual weigh in log.. So I will look for it but suffice to say like Mis there were good months and better months, I never had a bad month and I stuck to my plan like glue. All said and done I have been banded 24 months and I have lost 220 lbs.

Based on your results, anyone who doesn't listen to you must not have ears. Amazing loss and maybe the best before/after pix ever. Well played ma'am... well played.

You can bet I'll pay attention to your posts and follow what you've done as closely as possible.

I actually asked my nutritionist about "starvation mode". What people dieting refer to as "starvation mode" isn't actually starvation at all. It's more like a self induced metabolic syndrome from eating too little, drastically slowing down your metabolism. True starvation is entirely different.

But yes, when I eat too little, my metabolism slows dramatically. When I eat more, it runs much more efficiently. I even wrote a blog entry about my own results messing with my calories: http://www.lapbandta...ories-do-count/

Thank you for the kind words I do feel really good, better than I have in many years. I really believe the band saved my life, or my quality of life at the very least.

There you go. I ask and I get to learn! I thought "starvation mode" WAS just the body going into a metabolic slowdown. What I thought I knew I learned the hard way which was the first time I ever lost any significant amount of weight. For a few months I ate almost nothing and worked out like a fiend every day. At the time I didn't understand why I lost so slowly and why I wasn't gaining a ton of muscle mass. Had I only listened...

As for my "kind words", I'm only saying what you deserve to hear (and have most likely heard a ton of times). What you've accomplished is nothing short of amazing. Which feels better, the physical or mental? I'm very much looking forward to the day when I can share these same things.

There you go. I ask and I get to learn! I thought "starvation mode" WAS just the body going into a metabolic slowdown. What I thought I knew I learned the hard way which was the first time I ever lost any significant amount of weight. For a few months I ate almost nothing and worked out like a fiend every day. At the time I didn't understand why I lost so slowly and why I wasn't gaining a ton of muscle mass. Had I only listened...

As for my "kind words", I'm only saying what you deserve to hear (and have most likely heard a ton of times). What you've accomplished is nothing short of amazing. Which feels better, the physical or mental? I'm very much looking forward to the day when I can share these same things.

That's an interesting question... mental or physical. I'd have to say physical for two reasons: One, I felt terrible last year at this time. I needed a cane just to walk a few feet and a power scooter to grocery shop because I couldn't walk that far. Now, I walk 2 miles 4-5 days a week with ease. The physical improvements have truly given me a new lease on life.

The second reason I say physically is because mentally, I still struggle. I have a very hard time seeing myself as I truly am. In my mind, I'm still a 400 pound woman, so when I see my own reflection it's literally startling at times. Plus I'm not done losing, so I am still very much in must-lose-this-weight mode. I'm hopefully one day, in time, my brain will catch up with my body

Based on your results, anyone who doesn't listen to you must not have ears. Amazing loss and maybe the best before/after pix ever. Well played ma'am... well played.

You can bet I'll pay attention to your posts and follow what you've done as closely as possible.

you are very flattering but i don't know everything...just what worked for me. and I am so excited about my results I really want to be able to offer any help I can to those who are serious about wanting this to work for them.

I would say something, but I lost my calculator! ROFLMAO